Did Lotus offer a 4 speed Type 74 back in the days?

[Toffee]

I am working on buying a type 74. A twin cam special, so the seller said.  The car has a twink and the body style of the twinks.  But it has a 4 speed, I thought all specials came with 5 speed? 

[EuropaTC]

Hi there,

To be perfectly honest I don't know. When I first read the question I had a vague idea that the 5sp was offered as an optional extra for the late TC cars when it was first introduced, so I did a bit of checking. There was an article in Motor Sport (Feb 1972) on the introduction of the Twin Cam Special where the author wrote that the most notable improvement over the previous TC was the introduction of the Big Valve engine, "coupled to the new 5-speed box although the 4-speed is still available if required".

So I guess it's possible to have a 4-speed TCS although surely most buyers would have gone with the 5sp box ? 

If the provenance is in doubt then I think I'd look at chassis numbers & production dates because anything produced in 71  is going to be a standard TC. The other thing to look for is the engine, the TCS was all around the big valve engine and the most obvious way is to look at the cam cover. (although yes, someone could replace that I suppose)

Brian

edit to add - In the UK at least, parts for the 5sp box became very difficult to get. When I was looking for a Europa in the mid 80s I was offered a TCS with a broken gearbox which had lain in my local specialist's workshop for well over 6 months while they tried to obtain parts.  Both Lotus and Renault had nothing available and the only ways to get it running were either make the parts yourself or fit a 4sp box from a scrapyard. The Renault NG3 conversion just wasn't an option in those days although that's what you'd do now.
     
So another possibility could be that a previous owner had similar gearbox problems and fitted a 4sp box ?

[cal44]

What is the Vin?  If you don't want to print it publicly then either send me a P.M or go to Jerry's site and hunt in the registry, left side of home page.
http://lotus-europa.com/

If that doesn't work then write Jerry on his site and he may be able to shed some light. 

Mike

[Roger]

The TC and TCS are both type 74, and yes, there are TCS cars with 4-speed boxes.

[Bainford]

The TC and TCS are both type 74, and yes, there are TCS cars with 4-speed boxes.

...and as Brian said above, for various reasons, swapping an original 5 spd for a 4 spd is highly plausible.

I have a Special with a 5 spd. I bought the car three years ago and when I was shopping, the 5 spd was a 'must have' for me. Honestly though, I very rarely use 5th gear. I've put 10,000 miles on my Europa since I bought it, and have engaged 5th gear less than a dozen times. It really boils down to the type of driving you do, but (in my opinion) on the type of roads on which the Europa is most at home, there is no use for a fifth gear. Interstate type driving is boring, and occasionally uncomfortable in the Europa. If I was shopping for a Special again, I wouldn't pass up an otherwise great car because it had a 4 spd. In fact, due to differing ratios, a 4 spd may actually be preferable, though I haven't examined this perspective this yet.

Keep us posted on your search/buy. Cheers.

[Pete Gossett]

My '73 appears to be a TCS based on the wider rear brakes and silver fiberglass panels on the rockers, but had a 4-speed in it.

[JLM]

My 73 Twin-Cam Special also came with a 4-speed box (type 352-11). The chassis number is 3348R.

[LotusJoe]

Mine is a 73 as well but came with the 5 speed chassis 3927R

[LotusJoe]

My 73 Twin-Cam Special also came with a 4-speed box (type 352-11). The chassis number is 3348R.

Larry, what month was your car made?

[pboedker]

The first TC's came with the same 4 speed (type 336 box, 'side shifter') as in the S2.

The later TC's (TCS) came with either a 4 speed (type 352, 'rear shifter') or an optional 5 speed (type 365, 'rear shifter').

The 336 and 352 has the same gear ratios but different shift mechanisms, so not so easily interchangeable. The 365 has different gear ratios but on the other hand is interchangeable with the 352 box. 

[JLM]

Hi Joe:

Per my records, my car was built on 4/10/73.

Hope that helps.

[LotusJoe]

Hi Joe:

Per my records, my car was built on 4/10/73.

Hope that helps.

I was just curious as mine was August of '73. So approximately 579 cars between us...assuming there was no gaps in production numbers.